Multi-stage flush apparatus for a flush toilet tank

ABSTRACT

A multi-stage flush apparatus includes a water conduit having upper and lower buoyed valves and corresponding valve openings and seats. The buoys on the valves are hollow and have openings in their lower ends. The water conduit has an upper end and an opposite lower end. The lower end is mounted into fluid communication with a water drainage aperture in the floor of a flush toilet tank. The water conduit has upper and lower valve seats on the corresponding upper and lower valve openings. A selectively adjustable stop is mounted over the lower valve seat to prevent the lower buoyed valve from rotating to a point where the air in the corresponding buoy would escape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of devices for flushing water from a flush toilet tank into its bowl, an in particular to a multi-stage apparatus for controlled differential flushing of tank volumes of lesser or greater degree.

In the prior art, Applicant is aware of U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,644 which issued to Huang on Apr. 2, 1991 for a two-stage water discharge mechanism for flush toilet tank, U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,537 which issued to Zaruba on May 12, 1992 for a toilet apparatus, and Canadian published patent application No. 2,246,859 published Nov. 6, 1998 directed to the multi-flush toilet of Mottiar.

The prior art established that is known to employ within a flush toilet tank a water discharge mechanism for discharging the water from the tank into the toilet bowl, where the discharge mechanism has two separate ports for discharging of the water from two different ports at two different corresponding water levels so as to minimize the amount of water used when flushing by giving the option to a user to employ an upper port for a small limited flush for urine use and a lower port to obtain a larger heavier flush.

As stated by Huang, it is known in the prior art to provide a water saving flush toilet equipped with a two-stage press handle operatively connected to the operation of the water discharge outlets by means of pivotally mounted buoys operated by a lever arm, where each buoy is operated by a corresponding a lever arm mounted to a corresponding handle.

In the Huang device, upper and lower float valves are actuated by corresponding control buttons so as to vary the volume discharge from the tank so that a user may economize on the volume of water by only operating the upper float valve so as to discharge water from the tank into the bowl as deemed appropriate to the user.

Similarly, the apparatus of Zaruba discloses the use of a low volume discharge valve and a high volume discharge valve where the high volume discharge valve is connected to the housing in the tank near the bottom end of the housing for nearly 100% fluid discharge from the tank and the low volume discharge valve is connected to the housing near to its end for about a 40% volume fluid discharge from the tank. The discharge valves are actuated by corresponding lever arms mounted to separate user-operable handles on the outside of the tank.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In summary, the multi-stage flush apparatus according to the present invention may include a flush toilet tank or may be for independent retro-fit into a flush toilet tank. The apparatus includes a water conduit having upper and lower buoyed valves and corresponding valve openings and seats. The water conduit has an upper end and an opposite lower end. The lower end is mounted or is mountable into fluid communication with a water drainage aperture in the floor of the flush toilet tank. The water conduit has upper and lower valve seats on the corresponding upper and lower valve openings formed in the water conduit. A selectively adjustable stop is mounted over the lower valve seat.

An upper flap valve assembly is pivotally mounted to the upper end of the conduit so as to pivotally seat onto the upper valve seat. A lower flap valve assembly includes a hollow open-ended buoy and is pivotally mounted to the lower end of the conduit. The lower flap valve pivots in a substantially vertical plane about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the lower flap valve pivotally seats onto the lower valve seat. When in the open position, the lower flap valve rests buoyed by the buoy against the stop. The buoy has an opening aperture at a lower end thereof which opens into the cavity within the buoy. The stop inhibits upward rotation of the buoy so as to retain a buoyant air pocket substantially filling the buoy when the upper flap valve assembly is in the open position.

First and second means are provided for a user to selectively upwardly pivot, respectively, the upper and lower flap valves or valve assemblies. There may be independently operable handles operating corresponding lever arms and linkages between the lever arms and the valves.

The stop may be an elongate deformable member which may be bent to adjust a stop attitude of the stop. The member may be a metal bar mounted so as to be generally vertically disposed from the conduit above the lower valve seat. The bar may form a stop angle inclined from the vertical, advantageously in the range of substantially 30-45 degrees.

The lower flap valve assembly may include a planar resilient sealing flange mounted around the buoy. The buoy may be disposed downwardly though the flange so as to downwardly dispose the opening aperture in a plane substantially co-planar with the flange. An upper end of the buoy may protrude above the flange and contacts the stop when in the open position. The upper flap valve assembly is substantially identical to the lower flap valve assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is, in partially cut away perspective view, a flush toilet containing the multi-stage flush apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 a is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is, in perspective view, the multi-stage flush apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is, in side elevation view, the apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is, in plan view, the apparatus of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is, in bottom view, the apparatus of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As seen in the accompanying figures, wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 1 a, a toilet 10 has a water tank 12 in fluid communication with a bowl 14 via a conventional water discharge conduit 16.

The multi-stage water discharge mechanism 18 according to the present invention is mounted into a base aperture 12 a in the base of tank 12 so that water discharged through discharge mechanism 18 flows down into conduit 16.

A hollow cylindrical base plug 20, which may be threaded, mounts through aperture 12 a in the base of tank 12. A hollow inclined seat 22 better seen in FIGS. 2-5, is mounted onto a hollow housing 25 having an inclined upper face 24 a onto which is mounted seat 22. Housing 24 is mounted in fluid cooperation onto base plug 20. A lower flap valve 26 is pivotally mounted onto seat 22 and housing 24 so as to rotate in direction A about axis B. Thus flap valve 26 is free to rotate between a closed position seated and sealed onto seat 22, and an open position upwardly inclined against adjustable stop arm 28 as better seen in FIG. 3.

A hollow, 9 generally egg-shaped buoy 30 is mounted so as to extend downwardly from flap valve 26. Buoy 30 has a lowermost opening or aperture 30 a into its hollow inner cavity. When flap valve 26 is in its closed position, resting on seat 22, buoy 30 is disposed substantially entirely downwardly through seat 22 into housing 24. When flap valve 26 is in its open position, buoy 30 is angularly inclined with opening 30 a disposed at an angle of generally 45-50 degrees from the vertical. The exact attitude and inclination of flap valve 26 and therefore buoy 30 and opening 30 a may be selectively adjusted by adjusting the inclination angle α of stop arm 28. Stop arm 28 is thus advantageously made of a deformable substantially rigid elongate member such as a metal bar mounted at its lower end to an upstanding mounting member 32 itself mounted to seat 22 and housing 24. Arm 28 may be mounted to base 32 by means of bolts or screws or other fasteners 34.

An upper hollow housing 36 is mounted in fluid communication with housing 24 by means of a 90 degree elbow pipe 38 mounted to a corresponding aperture in housing 24. Housing 36 is mounted onto the upper end of elbow pipe 38 so as to dispose an inclined seat 40 on housing 36 above the opening into elbow pipe 38. Housing 36 may be mounted by means of a threaded coupling 37 between the housing and elbow pipe 38. This allows for height adjustment of the height of seat 40, relative to elbow pipe 38. Flap valve 42 has a second hollow buoy 44 having a lower opening 44 a mounted to flap valve 42 so as to extend downwardly from flap valve 42. Flap valve 42 is pivotally mounted to an extension 36 a of housing 36 so as to pivot in direction C about axis D. Pipe 46 is mounted to extension 36 a so as to be in fluid communication with housing 36. Pipe 46 has an open upper end and is hollow. Pipe 46 regulates the maximum volume of water in tank 12.

In operation, as better seen in FIG. 6, a first handle 48, pivotally mounted to the front of tank 12, is mounted to a short lever arm 50. Short lever arm 50 is mounted by means of rod or cable or chain or the like to the free end of flap valve 42. A second handle 54 is also pivotally mounted, in the illustrated embodiment about a common axis of rotation with the first handle 48 to the front of tank 12. Second handle 54 is mounted to long lever arm 56. The distal end of long lever arm 56 is mounted to the free end of flap valve 26 by means of a rod 58 or cable or the like.

Rotating handles 48 or 54 in direction E rotates the corresponding lever arm 50 or 56 respectively, so as to pull flap valves 42 or 26 upwardly in directions F or G respectively. Pulling of flap valve 26 in direction G rotates the flap valve in direction A until the top of buoy 30 engages stop arm 28. With stop arm 28 angled from the vertical by angle α, which may be approximately 35 degrees, buoy 30 is maintained with a substantial volume of air, for example, approximately 90-95% of the available volume of the internal cavity 30 b of buoy 30, within the cavity above opening 30 a. Consequently, buoy 30 when in its open position will remain more buoyant than would be the case if flap valve 26 was allowed to open to the fully vertical. Buoy 30 only fills with water to approximately water line 60. The balance of cavity 30 above water line 60 remains filled with air. This improved buoyancy maintains buoy 30 and consequently flap valve 26 in the open position longer than conventionally would be the case, thereby delaying the closing of flap valve 26 down onto seat 22. This assists in ensuring a complete drain of the maximum amount of water from the tank, only limited by the height of the lower edge of seat 22 above the base of the tank.

With respect to the upper flap valve 42 and its corresponding buoy 44, because the use of the upper flap valve is only for light flushing, for example, so as to clear urine from the bowl, it is not as important that the maximum amount of water be drained before the flap valve closes and so consequently, flap valve 42 may be allowed to travel more closely to the vertical in its open position. The desirability of holding the discharge of the water from the tank open as long as possible is most desirable in respect of flap valve 26 which is operated by a user turning the corresponding handle so as to flush heavier waste from the bowl.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims. 

1. A multi-stage flush apparatus for a flush toilet tank comprising: a water conduit having an upper end and opposite lower end, said lower end mountable into fluid communication with a water drainage aperture in the floor of a flush toilet tank, said water conduit having upper and lower valve seats on corresponding upper and lower apertures formed in said water conduit, a selectively adjustable stop mounted over said lower valve seat, an upper flap valve assembly pivotally mounted to said upper end of said conduit so as to pivotally seat onto said upper valve seat, a lower flap valve assembly including a hollow open-ended buoy and pivotally mounted to said lower end of said conduit for pivoting in a substantially vertical plane about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position so as to pivotally seat onto said lower valve seat when in said closed position, and so as to rest buoyed by said buoy against said stop when in said open position, wherein said buoy has an opening aperture at a lower end thereof, and wherein said stop inhibits upward rotation of said buoy so as to retain a buoyant air pocket substantially filling said buoy when said upper flap valve assembly is in said open position, first and second means for a user to selectively upwardly pivot, respectively, said upper and lower flap valve assemblies.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stop is an elongate deformable member which may be bent to adjust a stop attitude of said stop.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said stop is a bar mounted so as to be generally vertically disposed from said conduit above said lower valve seat.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said bar is metal.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said lower flap valve assembly includes a planar resilient sealing flange mounted around said buoy, and wherein said buoy is disposed downwardly through said flange so as to downwardly dispose said opening aperture in a plane substantially co-planar with said flange.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said upper flap valve assembly is substantially identical to said lower flap valve assembly.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein an upper end of said buoy protrudes above said flange and contacts said stop when in said open position.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bar forms a stop angle inclined from the vertical.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said stop angle is in the range of substantially 30-45 degrees.
 10. A multi-stage flush apparatus comprising: a flush toilet tank, a water conduit having an upper and opposite lower end, said lower end mounted into fluid communication with a water drainage aperture in the floor of said flush toilet tank, said water conduit having upper and lower valve seats on corresponding upper and lower apertures formed in said water conduit, a selectively adjustable stop mounted over said lower valve seat, an upper flap valve assembly pivotally mounted to said upper end of said conduit so as to pivotally seat onto said upper valve seat, a lower flap valve assembly including a hollow open-ended buoy and pivotally mounted to said lower end of said conduit for pivoting in a substantially vertical plane about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation between an open position and a closed position so as to pivotally seat onto said lower valve seat when in said closed position, and so as to rest buoyed by said buoy against said stop when in said open position, wherein said buoy has an opening aperture at a lower end thereof, and wherein said stop inhibits upward rotation of said buoy so as to retain a buoyant air pocket substantially filling said buoy when said upper flap valve assembly is in said open position, first and second means for a user to selectively upwardly pivot, respectively, said upper and lower flap valve assemblies.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said stop is an elongate deformable member which may be bent to adjust a stop attitude of said stop.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said stop is a bar mounted so as to be generally vertically disposed from said conduit above said lower valve seat.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said bar is metal.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said lower flap valve assembly includes a planar resilient sealing flange mounted around said buoy, and wherein said buoy is disposed downwardly through said flange so as to downwardly dispose said opening aperture in a plane substantially co-planar with said flange.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said upper flap valve assembly is substantially identical to said lower flap valve assembly.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein an upper end of said buoy protrudes above said flange and contracts said stop when in said open position.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said bar forms a stop angle inclined from the vertical.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said stop angle is in the range of substantially 30-45 degrees. 